***I just found this draft as I was cleaning up the ‘ole blog and couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it despite it being nearly a year old… I wrote this when I was newly pregnant with Emil and wasn’t ready to tell the world yet. I added the last picture to finally complete it. Am I nostalgic about pregnancy? A little. Enough to do it again? Nope.***
The day before I went into labor with Milo. Baltimore, 2007.
With Milo, it was lamb. I remember never having eaten it before, let alone prepared it. But I had to have it. Like, once a week. Once a week I filled our tiny Philadelphia rowhouse with smoke in the middle of winter as the broiler attempted to properly singe the tasty morsels of meat.
Just for kicks, our tiny kitchen in Philadelphia, where we lived during most of my pregnancy with Milo. Loved that place. Aw, memories!
With Oliver, coconut cupcakes. HAD to have them. Which resulted in weekly trips to Georgetown Cupcake in the heart of Georgetown, DC. And likely explains the phenomenon of the delicious ooey-gooey baby that was Oliver.
The week before Oliver was born. Washington, DC, 2009.
This time, kale. And, to be quite specific, lox with dill on an everything bagel with cream cheese, tomato, capers, and pickled red onions. I mean, this is serious. I could eat it every. single. day. That seems like no big surprise, as I have always enjoyed this breakfast of champions. But the kale??? I (alone) have eaten two ENTIRE bunches of kale in THREE DAYS. Sauteed in garlic and olive oil with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of sea salt. And still I feel like it could make a tasty snack this afternoon.
I think I am craving the richest, most nutrient-dense foods I can imagine. My familiar sweet tooth is turning up its nose at pecan-caramel brownies and opting instead for eggs Florentine. Why? Who knows. One theory is the old crave-what-you-need standby. At a full 10 lbs lighter than I started when I became pregnant with Oliver, I think I am trying to pack on the (good) pounds for this little belly-munchkin. Which is fine by me. Especially if it requires the eating of such fine foods. Mmmmm. So, if you are thinking of sending a special treat, make it smoked salmon, gravlox style.
Exactly one week before Emil was born. St. Louis, 2011.
***So now I’m curious… ladies who have birthed a babe or two, or are pregnant now, what did/do you crave, if anything?***
I have never birthed a baby or been pregnant. However. When my mother was pregnant with me, she grew very toxic and pre-eclampsic with me. I was a 5lb baby. My mother gained 90lbs (mostly water) with me, bringing her in at a little over 200lbs when she birthed me. She had no ankles and was very hypertensive, making her very sick to her stomach and dizzy. When she was pregnant with me, my health nut mother drank Pepsi by the gallons. It was the only thing that made her feel less nauseous. If she drinks soda now, it is rare. But whenever I am feeling nauseous or have been vomiting, I go against all my medical training and have a Pepsi. It is the only thing that ever cures my sick stomach. I never knew she was a Pepsi addict with me until much later. After she birthed me, she didn’t want Pepsi. I won’t drink Pepsi now unless it is to soothe my belly. Transference? Womb memory? Hard to say. It would be interesting to see if your children have strange desires for the things that you craved when they were in utero.
For my son, I wanted watermelon and Pop Ice. Only.
For my daughter, I was hungry for Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers from Chilis with Pepsi.
Its interesting to note that I like both these cravings still, but I only like them – I could take them or leave them. When I was craving them, I wanted them every single day!
Also, that is a wonderfully cute kitchen! And so clean!
And if its worth anything… you are really beautiful while fully pregnant. Not everyone is, even though every one is told they are. You could model. I’d suggest future pregnancies based on that fact alone!
Wow! Thank you, Bethany!
I love the kale craving.. I have that craving regularly and love it cooked exactly like you said. I think I could easily eat 1 bunch per day. Kind of funny — when my mom was pregnant with me her iron was low so instead of taking a supplement she ate kale with pretty much every meal. I’m curious if what you eat a lot of during your pregnancy affects your children’s favorite/most eaten foods? Do you notice that being the case with your kiddies?
I can’t wait to see what I crave when I’m pregnant… just watch – it will be krispy kreme donuts and pepsi and I’ll have to hide it from all of my readers. haha
Fun post! It is funny to hear all about the different cravings women have. Hope you guys are doing well!